Chopsticks

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a set of chopsticks ( 1 ) comprising a cavity ( 3 ) that, starting from the side opposite a mouthpiece ( 2 ) of the chopsticks ( 1 ) extends in the longitudinal direction into the chopsticks ( 1 ), and an object, particularly an information carrier ( 5 ), is placed inside the cavity ( 3 ). The open end of the cavity ( 3 ) is preferably closed by a stopper ( 4 ).

The present invention relates to chopsticks according to the preamble ofmain claim 1.

Chopsticks are predominantly used among the population of Asiancountries for eating purposes. According to the tradition of thesecountries, chopsticks are used in place of a fork and serve the purposeof holding solid food, such as rice, meat, fish, noodles, etc. Thepractice of using chopsticks also has an increasing number of followersin other continents and countries. Each set of chopsticks are held in ahand in a certain manner and their movements are coordinated with oneanother such that even the smallest food particle can be held and takento the mouth effortlessly.

For example, the patent applications DE 37 33 937 A1 describeschopsticks that taper conically and are provided with unevennesses attheir end, which serves as a mouthpiece. Chopsticks of such type aim toprevent the gripped food particles from slipping off from themouthpieces when the chopsticks are manipulated.

The objective of the present invention is to design chopsticks in such amanner that they find greater acceptance, particularly in non-Asiancountries than is the case so far.

This objective is achieved by the chopsticks having the characteristicsspecified in the main claim 1.

The essential advantage is that the chopsticks according to the presentinvention have an information carrier in a cavity, preferably arolled-up note of paper or the like, which is printed with information,for example in the form of a funny saying related to the topic of food,an amusing advertising slogan, etc. or a horoscope. The informationcarrier is released automatically and/or an access to the informationcarrier is made possible by breaking the chopsticks after the meal. Thisfeature arouses the interest of people to eat using chopsticks.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are specified in thedependent claims.

In the following description, the invention and its embodiments areexplained more elaborately on the basis of the drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a chopstick according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section through the upper end of thechopstick illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

The present chopstick 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has an inherentlyelongated shape. At one end the chopstick 1 preferably has a mouthpiece2 that extends slightly conically. Elsewhere, the chopstick preferablyhas a rectangular cross-section. Starting from the front side turnedaway from the mouthpiece 2, a recess and/or a cavity 3, which preferablyhas the shape of a borehole, extends in the longitudinal direction intothe chopsticks 1. The cavity 3 serves for holding an information carrier5 that is preferably a note or slip of paper printed with a piece ofinformation. In particular, the information carrier 5 is wound up into asmall roll that is inserted into the borehole of the cavity 3 when thechopsticks 1 are being manufactured.

At its side turned away from the mouthpiece 2, the cavity 3 is closedpreferably by a stopper 4, which is inserted into the end area of thecavity 3 and attached to it after the information carrier 5 is insertedinto the cavity 3.

The chopsticks 1 expediently consist of wood and the stopper 4 alsoconsists of wood, cork and the like. The stopper 4 is preferably gluedinto the end area of the cavity 11. However, it is also feasible tomanufacture the chopsticks 1 and/or the stopper 4 from other materials,for example from plastic.

The cavity 3 preferably extends starting from the end lying opposite tothe mouthpiece of the chopsticks 1 beyond half the length of thechopsticks 1. Consequently, breaking the chopsticks automaticallyprovides an access to the information carrier 5 because chopsticks canusually be broken somewhat in the center.

At this point, it must be pointed out that even other objects can beplaced in the cavity 3 in place of the information carrier 3. Thus,e.g., instead of the above-described note or slip of paper, even smallfigures or sweets (e.g., love pearls) or photographs can be accommodatedinto the cavity 3. What matters here is that this feature arouses theinterest of people to eat using chopsticks 1 in order to obtain accessto the objects hidden in the chopsticks 1 by breaking the chopsticks 1.

In the following description, an embodiment of the present invention isexplained on the basis of FIG. 3 in which two chopsticks 1′, 1″ areinherently connected to one another to form one unit. The details ofFIG. 3 that have already been explained in connection with the otherfigures are also marked accordingly. As usual, preceding their use, thechopsticks 1′, 1″ can be separated from one another easily by breakingthem apart in the connecting area 6. According to the present invention,the cavity 3 together with the object, preferably the informationcarrier 5, is located in the connecting area 6 so that the object and/orinformation carrier 5 is accessible even before the eating processsimply by breaking the chopsticks 1′, 1″ apart.

1. Chopsticks with an object placed in a cavity (3), characterized inthat, the object is an information carrier (5) or a figure, a photographor a sweet.
 2. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that,the cavity (3), starting from the side opposite the mouthpiece (2) ofthe chopsticks (1), extends in a longitudinal direction into thechopsticks (1).
 3. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 1, characterized inthat, the information carrier (5) is a rolled up note of slip of paper.4. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that, the cavity (3)is closed on the side turned away from the mouthpiece (2) by a stopper(4).
 5. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that, theyconsist of wood.
 6. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 1, characterized inthat, they consist of plastic.
 7. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 4,characterized in that, the stopper (4) consists of wood, cork orplastic.
 8. Chopsticks pursuant to claim 4, characterized in that, thestopper (4) is glued in the end area of the cavity (3).
 9. Chopstickspursuant to claim 1, characterized in that, the cavity (11) stretchesbeyond half the length of the chopsticks (1).
 10. Chopsticks pursuant toclaim 1, characterized in that, the cavity (3) is arranged in aconnecting area (6) that connects the chopstick (1′) with an additionalchopstick (1″).